How to set clear goals for your startup

Every successful startup once started small. The difference? They went from dreaming to doing. We know how important it is to take that first step, even if it feels like you don’t know how to approach it yet. In this blog, we’ll take you through the first steps of your entrepreneurial journey. Some helpful tips […]

Meet Idris Oncology: An interview with Hans Peter Mulder

Hans Peter’s journey into entrepreneurship began during his studies in Leiden, where he graduated in molecular biology. Though his work has since evolved, his love for biology stays the same: “I don’t get to do much biology anymore, but I’m still very fond of it,” he reflects. It was during his master’s, alongside his co-founder Peter, that their shared curiosity led them to build a micro 3D printer capable of producing objects as small as a cell nucleus.

3 tips to get you out of your Blue Monday dip

The third Monday of January is known as Blue Monday: the most depressing day of the year. The holidays are over, it’s dark for longer and there are no free holidays to look forward too. And it’s also a Monday, so makes sense for it not to be the best day of the year, right?

The Gratama Startup prize goes to two PLNT-based startups

The idea came about in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Gratama-Stichting. This family foundation has been subsidising scientific projects at the universities of Leiden and Groningen for decades. For almost 15 years now, they have also been awarding the Gratama Science Prize, an incentive prize for a young, promising scientist at the same […]

The Monday of: Sven van der Vlies

Everyone knows the Monday feeling. It is the day with the most negative reputation, for good reason, but at PLNT we always try to look at everyday things differently. So time for an ode to Mondays, because bad reputation or not: it is, after all, your fresh start to the week. We asked our colleagues […]

ExCulture secures funding

PLNT startup ExCulture B.V., which focuses on the development of an animal-free heparin replacement via fermentation, is proud to announce that it has closed its latest round of investment with Capricorn Partners and TTT Medtech.   The investment allows ExCulture to continue comparison studies between porcine heparin and ExCulture’s heparin substitute according to pharmacopoeia guidelines. […]

Tips for creating your brand identity

‘My business is my baby’. Recognizable? You can also treat it this way; when founding your startup, you start your own brand, and that’s similar to a real person. Everyone has their own name, appearance and personality. These are things that make people unique and distinct from each other. The same goes for your business, […]

Million note makes funding more accessible to startups

In the many plans that came out on the third Tuesday of September, it was also about access to finance for entrepreneurs. And that funding is important, especially for a startup or scaleup. The Schoof-cabinet seems to want to work towards a better startup climate in the Netherlands, in which getting the right funding becomes […]

How grants can accelerate your startup

How do you secure the right funding to make your startup plans a reality? There are different types of funding, of which grants are a very important one. The advantage of a grant? Besides the financial aspect (dûh), perhaps the biggest advantage of it is that you can experiment and grow without the constant pressure […]

Incubation program 2024: the new cohort

The unlock_ Incubation program introduces a new cohort of visionary thinkers and doers. This new group is ready to shape the world of tomorrow with boundary-breaking startups. Time to introduce them!

Vacancy: Junior Program Coordinator unlock_

Do you want to help put the unlock_ Incubation Program even more on the map? And does it appeal to you to do so at a fast-growing startup hub? Then you are exactly who we are looking for! We offer you the space to contribute to the realization of our ambitions…

Leiden iGEM Team returns home with gold medal

The Leiden iGEM student team ‘Binanox’ won a gold medal at an international competition for organic entrepreneurs in Paris. Not only that, Binanox also won three “special awards” for best website, entrepreneurship and best safety policy, particularly around lab work and the use of…

Improving the Startup Visa Scheme

Improving the Startup Visa Scheme

The Netherlands makes it possible for international entrepreneurs to acquire a residence permit on the basis of their startups. Read more in this article.

ExCulture wins 2022 Gulliver competition

On December 8th the Gulliver final 2022 took place. There was fierce competition between ExCulture, Heliostrome and Baseline. In the end the jury decided to reward ExCulture with €10.000.

The 4 latest brilliant inventions in biotech

Black and white holographic image of a brain as part of The 4 latest brilliant inventions in biotech.

Developments in health and science are always interesting. Especially because it can help you when you need it. Recently, four companies have actually turned their idea into an innovation: EXIT071, RespiQ, Doser Medical and Imuno Therapeutics. This is the perfect opportunity…

What PR can do for start-ups

What PR can do for start-ups.

As a starting entrepreneur, the media landscape can be a jungle where you must find a path to success without a tour guide. In this article, you will read more about the power of PR for start-ups, tips for using communication correctly and how to grow from idea to full-fledged player.

Why Leiden and Science are Inseparable

Leiden city center of the water and windmill as part of why Leiden and Science are Inseparable.

Leiden is the city of science. Hidden behind the central station is a terrain of 110 hectare with over 60 science-based organisations established. This terrain, which is called the Leiden Bio Science Park (LBSP), is the biggest life-science cluster in The Netherlands. It isn’t a surprise that Leiden is…

unlock_ startups 2023

A group of people hiking up a rocky mountain representing the climb of life science and health startups in their incubation journey.

The unlock_team is a varied bunch, with different background but they share a passion for entrepreneurship in the Life Science Health sector. Click here to meet all the member of unlock_

Applications now open for the Venture Academy

Everything a startup needs to get off to a flying start is covered in the Venture Academy. Within a period of 4 months, startups participating in the Venture Academy work on validating their business case, building a healthy team…

Introducing unlock_LiveScience

Join us on the 16th of September for an introduction to unlock_LiveScience. unlock_LiveScience stimulates the cooperation between companies at the Leiden Bio Science Park and Naturalis to create a place to present cutting-edge research to a broader audience.

Special nanoparticles for cancer therapy! Will you help?

Developing a better treatment for patients with head and neck cancer, that is what Binanox, The 2022 iGEM Leiden team, want to achieve. They hope to raise at least 10,000 euros for this cause. Support their crowdfunding campaign today.

Iprotics Wins the Venture Challenge Spring 2022!

The winner of the Venture Challenge was announced today at the Dutch Biotech Event. The proud winner of the 2022 spring edition is Iprotics! The innovative startup Iprotics has developed specific proteasome inhibitors that potentially treat multiple myeloma (MM) without the si…

unlock_LiveScience

Science meets society at the Naturalis LiveScience gallery with unlock_LiveScience. unlock_LiveScience is a meeting place where you can connect with, contribute ideas to and learn all about the latest developments on biodiversity and research happening at the Leiden Bio Science Park.

Example template minimal post

A person touching a glowing ball of light unlock_.

The unlock_incubation program is officially full. We’re very happy with all the st Lorem ipsum lorsit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam onsectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod Lorem ipsum ipsum dol or sit amet, consectetuer am ipsudipiscinm ipsug elit, sed diaer.

LBSP Startup Booster

The Leiden Bio Science Park (LBSP) has launched the Startup Booster program to promote innovation and collaboration. This initiative seeks to establish LBSP as a hub for innovative projects by bringing entrepreneurs and researchers together.

Universities should build a Silicon Valley around themselves

The unlock_incubation program is officially full. We’re very happy with all the st Lorem ipsum lorsit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam onsectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod Lorem ipsum ipsum dol or sit amet, consectetuer am ipsudipiscinm ipsug elit, sed diaer.

The catalyst that can turn your startup into a reality

In the dynamic landscape of the healthcare industry, life science startups emerge at the forefront of innovation. The sector is booming, with an increasing number of startups launching every year.  At unlock_, we are dedicated to igniting the spark of inspiration among new life science startups. This month, we put the spotlight on a distinguished graduate […]

Universities should build a Silicon Valley around themselves

The unlock_incubation program is officially full. We’re very happy with all the st Lorem ipsum lorsit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam onsectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod Lorem ipsum ipsum dol or sit amet, consectetuer am ipsudipiscinm ipsug elit, sed diaer.

Example template long post

A person touching a glowing ball of light unlock_.

The unlock_incubation program is officially full. We’re very happy with all the st Lorem ipsum lorsit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam onsectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod Lorem ipsum ipsum dol or sit amet, consectetuer am ipsudipiscinm ipsug elit, sed diaer.

Universities should build a Silicon Valley around themselves

The unlock_incubation program is officially full. We’re very happy with all the st Lorem ipsum lorsit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam onsectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod Lorem ipsum ipsum dol or sit amet, consectetuer am ipsudipiscinm ipsug elit, sed diaer.

unlock_team members

A group of people hiking up a rocky mountain representing the climb of life science and health startups in their incubation journey.

The unlock_team is a varied bunch, with different background but they share a passion for entrepreneurship in the Life Science Health sector. Click here to meet all the member of unlock_

Investing in science-based startups in Leiden

LEH currently supports about 40 startup and spinout companies aimed at increasing the impact of Leiden University. Among these companies are unlock_ startups. Check out the LEH portfolio and startup stories here.